Usmnt Star Achieves Long-awaited Champions League Milestone In Style

U.S. men’s nationalist squad striker Folarin Balogun scored his first Champions League extremity pinch a pinpoint decorativeness astatine Aspmyra Stadion connected Tuesday.

Balogun, who sewage nan motion for Monaco against Bodø/Glimt, bagged nan only extremity of nan tightly contested matter successful Norway. The 24-year-old fired a left-footed onslaught from a tight perspective into nan tile of nan nett to unafraid each 3 points for nan visitors.

Monaco were successful hopeless request of a Champions League triumph aft starting their run pinch 2 draws and 1 defeat. Balogun roseate to nan juncture to present nan 1–0 triumph while besides ticking disconnected his ain profession milestone.

The victor was nan first clip nan American guardant recovered nan backmost of nan nett connected Europe’s biggest stage. It took Balogun 7 Champions League appearances to get connected nan scoresheet.

The triumph saw Monaco move up to 18th successful nan Champions League convention shape standings pinch 5 points. The French outfit is nary longer successful nan elimination places and tin perchance proceed their climb up nan array erstwhile they look disconnected pinch Pafos connected Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Monaco will dream to all-but unafraid their spot successful nan Champions League knockout shape playoffs earlier they must make nan travel to nan Santiago Bernabéu to play Real Madrid successful January.

Folarin Balogun is hoping to lead nan USMNT’s statement astatine nan 2026 World Cup. / Frederic Dides/AFP/Getty Images

Balogun has gotten his 2025–26 run disconnected to a coagulated start. Despite playing inconsistent minutes for some Monaco and nan USMNT, nan striker has recorded six goals successful 17 appearances for nine and state this season.

In fact, since returning from nan October world window, wherever he scored nan Stars and Stripes’ lone extremity successful their 1–1 tie pinch Ecuador, Balogun has recovered nan backmost of nan nett 3 times astatine nan nine level.

The No. 9 will dream to thrust his goalscoring momentum into nan November world break arsenic he useful to fastener down nan starting striker domiciled for nan USMNT up of nan 2026 FIFA World Cup. Balogun faces title from Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright, who bagged a brace successful nan Stars and Stripes’ 2–1 triumph complete Australia.

The Monaco man will person nan opportunity to make a connection to Mauricio Pochettino erstwhile nan USMNT takes connected Paraguay and Uruguay successful upcoming weeks.

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